Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the arrest of eight individuals suspected of attempting to transmit sensitive information to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency during the country’s 12-day war with Israel and the United States.
According to the IRGC, the suspects received specialized training from Mossad via online platforms and were apprehended in northeastern Iran before carrying out their plans. Materials for making launchers, bombs, explosives, and booby traps were seized from the suspects.
The arrests come amid a broader crackdown by Iranian authorities, who have detained thousands of people in connection with the conflict.
State media reported earlier this month that Iranian police had arrested as many as 21,000 “suspects” during the June conflict, although the specific charges against them were not disclosed. Iranian citizens were encouraged to report any suspicious activity during the war, which ended in a US-brokered ceasefire.
The IRGC statement alleges that the suspects provided information to Mossad during Israel’s air war on Iran in June, which attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and civilians.
Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure, and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Human rights groups have expressed concerns about Iran’s use of espionage charges and fast-tracked executions as tools for broader political repression.
At least eight people have been executed in recent months, including nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, who was hanged on August 9 for passing information to Israel about another scientist killed in Israeli airstrikes. These executions have sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of Iran’s judicial process.
The Israel-US-Iran conflict has also led to an accelerated rate of deportations for Afghan refugees and migrants believed to be illegally in Iran.
Local authorities have accused some Afghan nationals of spying for Israel. Police spokesperson Saeed Montazerolmahdi reported that law enforcement rounded up 2,774 illegal migrants and discovered 30 special security cases by examining their phones.
Additionally, 261 suspects of espionage and 172 people accused of unauthorized filming were arrested. Montazerolmahdi also stated that Iran’s police handled more than 5,700 cases of cybercrimes during the war, highlighting the importance of cyberspace as a “battlefront”.
The IRGC’s announcement and the broader crackdown in Iran underscore the complexities and tensions surrounding the Israel-US-Iran conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the region and beyond.